Method and means for applying a liquid to wires, threads, and the like



May 8, 1923. 1,454,224

- F. K. SCHMIDT METHODJWD MEANS FOR'APPLYING LIQUID TO WIRES, THREADS, AND THE LIKE Filqd Jan. 29. 1923 Fig. I

Patented May 8, 1923.

UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

FRIEDRICH KARL SCHMIDT, F PORZ- ON-THE -RHINE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE MEIROWSKY & CO., ACTIEN-GESELLSCHAFT, OF PORZ-ON-THE-RHINE, GER- MANY.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR APPLYING A LIQUID T0 WIRES, THREADS, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 29, 1923. Serial No. 615,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH KARL SCHMIDT, a citizen of the German Republic, residing at Porz-on-the-Rhine, Germany,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Means for A plying a Liquid to Wires, Threads, and tiie like, or which I have filed application in Germany, July 26, 1920, and of which the following is a specification.

It is known to coat wires, threads, or similar bodies to be lacquered or varnished, impregnated, or the like, with a layer of liquid by either pulling the wires, etc., through a receptacle containing the liquid to be applied, or conducting them over brushes or cushions imbued with the liquid. This latter is in both cases fully exposed to the air. The substances dissolved in it get partly lost by volatilization and another part suffers by oxidation, adheres to the wire, etc., in the form of grains, and soils the brushes and the cushions.

These disadvantages are obviated, accord- 2 ing to this invention, by pulling the wire or the like through a small quantity of liquid held fast by adhesion. This small amount of liquid which its carrier retains by adhesion is only at a very small surface in contact with the air and is also only a very short time in contact with it because it is continuously consumed and replaced by another small quantity of liquid of the same kind. This substitution is effected by conducting the liquid to said carrier without pressure whereby the thin column of li uid is prevented from tearing ofl". A In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying drawing, in 40 which similar letters of reference denote similar parts, throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through one form of construction of a device for carrying the novel method into practice; Figure 2 is an illustration similar to Figure 1 and shows another form of construction; and Figure 3 is also a perive representation and shows still another form.

Referring to Figure 1, a is a noz zle having a small vertical channel "containing an holding fast a little quantity of liquid 0 by adhesion. The lowermost portion of this liquid projects beyond the noz zle-end and forms, or tends to form, a drop which is held in place by the cohesion of the liquid. The wire a is pulled in vertical direction through that small quantity of liquid in general and through that drop in particular and in thus being pulled through the liquid, or the drop respectively, it is coated with a layer of liquid which adheres to it without the drop being made to disappear. The liquid forming it is removed, it is true, butv the drop is incessantly formed anew. It is appropriate to the purpose to provide for a strong adhesion. This latter may be increased, for instance, by a tubular insertion such as g in Fi re 2. which has longitudinal vertical slots g through which the liquid finds access to the wire d. The

.strength of the adhesion depends upon the size of the surface with which the liquid is in contact.

Replacing the consumed liquid in proportion to the consumption is eifec-ted In F igures 1 and 2 throu h a branch 6 into which the liquid isconducted without pressure which may be effected by any known means. The branch mayfifor instance, communicate with a supply receptacle in which the level 2f the liquid does not rise above the branch may be-efi'ected, for instance, by alvalve which is governed by a float.

Regulating the level correspondingly If the wire is pulled vertically, is in' i ures 1, and 2, it is appropriate to the purv pose to pull it in upward direction in order to counteract the weight of the vertical col umn' of liquid and provide for a greater security against its tearing off. But also if the wire is pulled in downward direction tearing of of the liquid may be prevented. This is true also for the cases in which the wire is moved in horizontal direction or in an inclined one, although this will but rarely occur.

In Figure 3 a small amount of liquid is retained by adhesion between two vertical i plates f and f and the wire is drawn in horizontal direction through this liquid.-

One of the plates has a branch b for replacin the consumed liquid, just as with the ot er forms. The adhesion is strong enough to hold the liquid between the plates not onlyagainst the gravity, but also against the adhesion with the wire.-

Care must be taken at any rate that the adhesion of the liquid at its carrier is sufiiciently'strong. It may be. increased by insertions' such as g g (Fig. 2), but also other appropriate means, for instance roughenings, riffles, ribs, and the like, may be made use of. To facilitate placing the wire into the channel of the nozzle a this latter may be provided with a lateral slot which may be closed after the wire has been 7 brought into place.

Also the cohesion should be as great as possible in order to obtain a sufiicient sectional area of the amount of liquid to be held fast by adhesion. strength of the. cohesion depends chiefly upon the nature or condition of the liquid to be applied.

Importance is attached to the elongated container for the liquid whereby a longer hydrostatic head is .providedand the adhesion is thereby greatly increased. ln'all of the forms described the wire or thread is passed through a small quantity of the li uid which. is held fast by adhesion or capi lary attraction, some of theliquid being outside the container or' carrier, .and the li uid is never under pressure.

aving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,

' Anyhow, the

iaeaaae and in what manner the same is to be performed, ll declare that what 1' claim is l. Themethod of applying liquids to wireor thread-shaped bodies, consisting in conductin the respective body'through. a vertically e ongated body of a small quantity of liquid held fast by-adhesion and maintained in equilibrium.

2. The method of applying liquids to wireor thread-shaped bodies, consisting in conducting the respective body through a vertically elongated body of a small quantity of liquid held fast by adhesion, and replacing the consumed liquidby supplying fresh liquid without the application of pressure.

3. A device for applying liquids to wireor thread-shaped bodies, comprising, in combination, a vertically elongated liquid carrier sleeve adapted to hold a vertically elongated body of a small quantity of liquid by adhesion and being adapted to allow of pulling the respective body through that liquid, and a branch attached to said sleeve and communicating with its liquid-holding space, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRIEDRICH KARL SCHMIDT. 

